Machine for making fireproof coverings for walls or ceilings.



No. 654,024. Patented July l7, I900. P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBEPBOOF CUVEBINGS FOB WALLS 0R CEILINGS.

' (Applicat ion filed Jan. 29, 1900.1 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-$heetw/rlvess s INVENTOR ATTORNEYS m: "cams FETERfl comuowauma, wunwmon. u c

Patented luly I7, I900- ATTOHNEYS Y P. RYAN.

(Application filed Jan. 29,1900.)

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'Qlncc llllllb MACHINE FOR MAKING FIREPRDOF COVEBINGS FOR WALLS 0BCEILINBS.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PNOTO-LIYHQ, wnsmumo. w. c.

No. 654,024. Pate'ntedluly l7, I900.

P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIREPROOF COVERINGS FOB WALLS 0B CEILINGS.(Application filed Jan. 29, 1900.) (No Model.) s shm's-smr-a.

lrA/fsss:

A TTORNEYS No. 654,024. Patented July I7, I900.

P. RYAN. MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBEPROOF COVERINGS FOR WALLS 0R GEILINGS.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1900.)

s Shaats8haat 4.

(No Model.)

lllllllml IN VENTOR W/ TNE SSE 8 m: NbRRIS c1'zns 410.. morauma.wumuamu. n. c,

No. 654,024. Patentd July l7, I900.

, P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBEPROOF CDVERINGS FOB WALLS 0R GEILINGS.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1900.) (No Model'J 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

IN VE N 70!? WITNESSES NHE- TATES 1 at ain? -FFrc.

PATRICK RYAN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIREPROOF COVERINGS FOR WALLS OR CEILINGF s.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 4,024, dated July 17,1900.

l Application filed January 29,1900. Serial No. 3,216. (No model.)

which is the subject of an application filed by me on the 3d No. 241.

The object of my present invention is to provide novel, simple, andeffective means for the rapid and perfect manufacture of the improvedwall-coverings of my invention reliably and cheaply, and thus enabletheir economical substitution for lath and plaster as a wall or ceilingmaterial. v

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine represented in twoportions which together form the entire device. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of details, showing partiallythe means for controlling the discharge of liquid coating material fromholders upon sheets moved below the same and other details ofconstruction. Fig. at is a transverse sectional view substantially onthe line at at in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional viewessentially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionalside elevation of parts substantially on the line 66 in Fig. 2. Fig. 7is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 7 7 in Fig. 6.Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 8 8 inFigs. 6 and 8. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the detailsshown in Fig. 8, taken substantially on the line 8 8 in said figure.Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary day of January, 1900, Serial andpartly-sectional detail view showing an end portion of a feed-rolleremployed and a detachable hanger-arm therefor, the position of said armbeing indicated by the arrow 00 in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view substantially on the line 9 9 in Fig. 2. Fig.10 is a longitudinal sectional View substantially on the line 10 10 inFig. 9. 60 Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view substantially on theline 11 11 in Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional viewsubstantially on the line 12 12 in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a transversesectional view essentially on the line 13 13 in Fig. 2. Fig. 14. is alongitudinal sectional view substantially on the line 14 14 in Fig. 13.Fig. 15 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of parts substantiallyon the line 15 15 in Fig. 10; and Fig. 16 isa perspective view of one ofthe plaster-boards completed, which is the product of the improvedmachine.

The invention, briefly described, comprises an elongatedsupporting-frame having a table on its upper portion, a holder forliquid coating material having compartments, a mixing tank for theliquid coating material adapted to supply the holder-compartmentstherewith, and a plurality of paper-sheet carriers arranged in sequenceover the table and from which elongated webs of paper or the like may beextended over each other and rest upon the table.

The machine also embodies means to control the escape of the liquidmaterial from the holder-compartments upon the respective paper sheets,means to evenly and thinly distribute the coating material thereon asthey are moved on the table, a device for perforating and scallopingeach paper sheet, a device to compress all the coated paper sheetstogether, thus forming a continuous plasterboard, a device for trimmingsurplus material from the side edges of the plaster-board material, andmeans to cut the compound web into sheets or completed plaster-boards asit approaches the discharging end of the machine.

The supporting-frame-of the machine is 100 lengthy and for conveniencein representation is shown in two parts 17 17, as appears in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, the end a of the frame portion 17 joining the end zof the lower portion of the holder and the table.

The holder 19 is divided into a plurality of compartments 19, each ofwhich has two transverse walls 19 which conver 'e toward their loweredges, but are separated at said edges, thus affording a transverseopening of suitable width at the bottom of each compartment 19,extending across the same. Preferably the transverse inclined walls 19extend upwardly but a portion of the entire height of the holder 19, sothat liquid material which is introduced into any one of thecompartments 19 if filled into the same above the top edges of thetransverse walls 19 will flowinto the other compartments and finally.assume the same level in all of said compartments.

At'the end of the table 18 which is below .the outermost end of theliquid-holder 19 a supported stand 20 is positioned, carrying atransverse roller whereon a long paper-roll partments for accommodationof two paperrolls A A which are respectively supported upon a transverseroller journaled at the ends in stands 20, erected upon the sides of theframe portion 17. At the rear end of the liquid-holder 19 anotherpaper-roll A is held to rotate by its wrapped engagement with atransverse roller journaled at the ends in opposite stands 20.

Upon stands 21, erected upon the sides of the frame portion 17,transverse rollers 22 are journaled, one of said rollers being locatednear each paperroll, as clearly shown in Fig.6, and one endof eachpaper-roll is passed over a respective supporting-roller when themachine is arranged for service, the respective paper sheets A A A Athen being each drawn under a roller 22, supported transversely of andnear to the table 18. Upon each pair of stands 21, above the roller 22,a paper-perforating device is held to rotate, said perforating devicesbeing alike and constructed as follows.

A shaft 23 is journaledin bearings formed or secured in each pair ofupright stands 21 at aproper distance above the roller 22, and uponshaft 23 a set of spider-frames 24 is mountedand secured, three of saidspider-frames being shown on said shaft in Fig. 8, but their number maybe increased or diminished, if

As shown in Figs. 1, 2,

this is desired. Upon the three spider-frames, which have each fourradial arms, four pressure-bars 25 are mounted and secured, each barbeing affixed upon one arm of each frame, these arms being located inthe same plane to adapt them to receive the straight bar which theysupport.

1 On each pressure-bar 25 a series of spaced punches a, projectsoutwardly, and said punches on each bar impinge upon the peripheralsurface of the roller 22 to which they are opposite, there being aslight elasticity afforded the face of the roller to preventinjury tothe punches. It will be evident that if the paper sheets composing therolls A, A, A and A be respectively drawn over the rollers 22 while thepunching device above each roller is rotating successive rows ofperforations will be formed across each paper sheet, as indicated inFig. 2. The means for the simultaneous rotation of all the punchingdevices is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and will be hereinafter described.

Each compartment 19* of the holder 19 is provided at its lower end witha device for controlling the discharge of the liquid coating materialtherefrom, and as these devices are of similar'construction adescription of one will answer for the three, which are respectivelypositioned at the transverse opena ing between the lower ends of theinclined walls 19 of each receptacle or compartment 19". As shown inFigs. 3, 7, and 8. hanger plates or arms I) are removably secured atopposite points on theconverged lower end of each compartment 19, saidarms, which are perforated near theirlower ends in alinement, affordingbearingsfor the journal :ends b of a feed-roller 26. The feed-roller 26.is of a ICC length to extend from side to side of the compartment 19 towhich it is adjacent and is of such diameter as adapts it to nearly fillthe opening between the lower ends of the inclined walls 19 as shown inFig. 6.

Two slide-bars 27 are loosely secured along the sides of theliquid-holder 19 by their free engagement with bracket-plates c, thatproject from the holder near its bottom, whereby the bars 27 aredisposed oppositely in the same horizontal plane.

Each feed-roller 26 has a loose engagement with the straight lower edgeof the rear transverse wall19 of a respective compartment 19, so thatescape of the liquid coating ma terial is prevented at the point wherethe roller and rear cross-wall have contact. A feed-slit e is providedbetween the forward transverse wall 19 and the periphery of thefeed-roller 26 for each compartment 19, so thata layer of the coatingliquid in a compartment will be permitted to adhere to the rollertherefor and becarried awayfrom the feed-slit by a rotatable movement ofthe feedroller in the direction of the curved arrow shown near eachfeed-roller in Fig. 6.

On the rear transverse wall 19 of each compartment19 aspring-bodiedscraper d is seicured at its upper end, said scrapers each'having a width sufficient to permit them to respectively engage with a.feed roller 26 throughout the length of the latter. On the free lowerportion of each scraper d a bend is formed, so as to project the edgethereof toward and against the periphery of the feedroller to which itis opposite. It will be seen that each scraper dwill when the machine isin operation be adapted to scrape the coating from the periphery of aroller with which it contacts, and such material will drop toward thetable 18.

On the forward transverse wall 19 of each compartment 19* two arms 28are pivoted intermediately of their ends, as shown at e in Fig. 6, andthe upper extremities of each pair of said arms are loosely connectedwith the slide-bars 27. The lower ends of each pair of arms 28 aresimilarly bent toward the slit 6 in the lower part of the compartment 19upon which said arms are pivoted, and these bent lower ends areconnected by a cross-bar. On the connecting cross-bar of each pair ofrockable arms 28 a pliable facing e is secured, which is preferablyformed of vulcanized gum; but other available material may be used.

It will be evident that by a sliding movement given to the slide-bars 27in a forward direction (indicated by a straight arrow y in Fig. 6) thelower ends of the arms 28 and the cross-bar thereon will be moved towardthe slits e, and by this means said slits may be partially or entirelyclosed to control the escape of the liquid coating material from saidslits.

At proper intervals antifriction-rollers O are held by their journalends in suitable boxes on the sides of the frame of the machine, so asto roll freely in transverse slots in the table 18, said rollersprojecting slightly above the table for contact with a paper sheet thatmay be drawn rearwardly upon the table.

At the rear of the liquid-feeding roller 26 for each compartment 19 apreferably V- shaped spreader-plate D is located, having its point orapex of the angle thereon directed forwardly and positioned at thetransverse center of the table 18, these three spreaderplates havingtheir rear ends supported upon uprights which are projections from thesides of the frame portion 17, as indicated in Figs. 3 and G. I

At a suitable distance from the holder 19 and rearwardly of the same twofeeding-rollers 29 29 are positioned, one above the other, in suitablebracket frames or housings 30, the lower roller 29 being journaled atits ends in stationary boxes g, which engage within the lower portionsof the housings, so as to dispose the upper portion of the roller-bodyin a transverse slot formed in the table 18 and permit the peripheralsurface of said upper portion of the feed-roller 29 to project slightlyabove the top surface of said table. The upper feed-roller 29 isjournaled at its ends in the boxes g, that are slidably held in thehousings 30, and set screws g which are screwed into the upper ends ofthe housings, have engagement at their ends with the boxes g and bytheir adjustment graduate the pressure of the roller 29 upon paper orthe like which is passed between the two feed-rollers 29 29 The ends ofthe feed-rollers 29 29 are extended outside of the housings 30, and onthe lower roller 29 a spur-gear h is mounted upon each of its ends.

Two spur-gears h are secured upon the ends of the upper feed-roller 29and have meshed engagement with the gears h, as shown in Fig. 4. At theright-hand end of the up per roller and outside of the gear h thereon apulley 31 is secured, and between said pulley and the spur-gear h aloose pulley 32 is mounted upon the end of the shaft of the upper roller29, these pulleys being designed to accommodate a main driving-belt forthe machine.

From the rear of the liquid-holder 19 a bracket-arm or equivalentsupport 32 projects toward the feed-rollers 29 29 and on said arm abell-crank lever 33 is pivoted to rock in a horizontal plane. Upon theouter end of the arm of the bell-crank lever 33, which projectslongitudinally of the table 18 and toward the feed-rollers 29 29*, oneend of a shit ting-bar 34 is pivoted, and the latter extends laterallyto dispose its forked outer end nearly opposite the fast and loosepulleys 31 32, an endwise movement of the shifting-bar being adapted totransfer the main driving-belt 35 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6)from one pulley to the other. A handle-bar 33 is projected fromthebell-crank lever 33 for its manipulation when desired.

A cross-bar 27 is secured by its ends upon the rear ends of theslide-bars 27, and from said cross-bar, intermediate of the slide-bars,an arm 27 projects toward the bell-crank 1e- Ver 33, so as to permit apivoted connection of the rear end of the arm 27 with the outer end ofthe transverse member of the bellcrank lever.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that an adjustment ofthe shiftingbar 34 so as to place the main belt 35 upon the fast pulley31 will cause a rotation of the feed-rollers 29 29 and at the same timeopen the slits e in the lower portions of the liquidholding compartments19 a proper degree to coat the liquid-feed rollers 26.

Upon the left-hand end of the upper paperroller 29, exterior of thespur-gear h thereon, two pulleys are affixed for the reception of therespective belts 36 37. As best shown in Fig. 2, the innermost belt 36is extended rearwardly to engage a pulley 36, which is secured upon oneend of the shaft of a top feedroller 38, held to receive verticaladjustment in two opposite housing-frames 30, which are similar to thehousings 30. The housingframes 30 also hold in position a lowerpaperfeed roller exactly the duplicate of the lower feed-roller 29, andin a like manner the second'pair of paper-feed rollers, of which theroller 38 is the uppermost, is adapted to aid same.

Each liquid-feed roller 26, at the left-hand end thereof, has its shaftextended beyond the supporting-hanger b, and upon each of the extendedportions of the shafts of'the, forward and intermediate feed-rollers 26two pulleys are mounted. On the extension of the shaft of theliquid-feed roller 26, which is held to rotate below the rearmostliquidr holding compartment 19", three pulleys are mounted and secured,and the belt 37, which is engaged with the pulley 35 on the upper; feedroller 29, extends forwardly and is; mounted upon the intermediatepulley of the three pulleys fixed on said feed-roller shaft Theinnermost pulley on the lefthand shaft extension of the rearmostliquidextension.

feed roller 26 receives one doubled end portion of an endless belt .39,which is extended rearwardly and engages with its rear doubled end apulley secured on an outer end of the, shaft 23 for thepaper-perforatingidevice provided .to operate upon paper drawn from therearmost paper-roll A The outermost pulley of the three pulleys securedupon the shaft extension of the rear- -most liquid-feed roller 26carries one doubled end of a belt 40, that extends forwardly and .engages the outermost pulley onthe left-hand shaft extension of theintermediate liquidfeed roller 26, and upon the innermost pul-' ley onthe shaft extension of the intermediate 1 feed-roller 26 a belt 41extends forwardly to engage'the outermost pulley on .the forwardfeed-roller 26, this construction and arrangement of parts relating tothe connection of i the three liquid-feed rollers 26 with the up-; perpaper-feed roller 29 being indicated in Fig. 2. I

On the left-hand end of each of the shafts 23, which are portions of thepaper-perforat- -ing devices provided for paper sheets carried on therolls A A A a pulley is secured, and

abelt w is extended from each of said pulleys to engage a pulley on arespective roller extension 26,which connection of parts adapts thepunching devices carried by said shafts 23 to rotate simultaneously forthe perforation of paper sheets when the latter are drawn beneath saidpunching devices.

On the right-hand end of the shaftof the rearmost top paper-feed roller28a pulley 38 is secured exterior of the spur-gear h there- -on, and abelt .42, which has its rear portion mounted upon this pulley, isextended rearwardly to engage a pulley on theright-hand end of a mandrel43, which is part of a paper-trimming device the construction of whichis as follows:

The mandrel 43 is held to rotate transversely on the machine-frameportion 17 by boxes i, hold adjustably in standards 43', and

projects at each side of the frame,therighthand end havingthe pulleypreviously mentioned secured thereon to receive rotary motion from thebelt 42, and on the left-hand end of the mandrel anotherpulley isaflixed to accommodate one end portion of a belt 44, that will presentlyreceive further description. On the mandrel 43, adjacent to the boxes2', two similar disk cutters 45 are mounted and secured, the cuttingperipheral edges of these circular blades being so relatively positionedthat they are adapted to shave the opposite side edgesof plaster-boardmaterial E, which is movedrearwardly upon the table 18. A rotatableroller 43 is located in aslot in the table 18, directly beneath themandrel .43, the true ends of this roller being adapted to contactv withthe cutting portions of the disks 45, and thus coact with the lattertorender their action eflicient.

In sequence with thecutters 45 two or more guide'rollers 46 are held torotateat each side of the machine-frame portion 17, said rollers at eachside of the frame being spaced apart a suitable distance and adapted toengage with their peripheral faces the true edges of the movingmaterialthey are to guide truly along the table toward its rear end.Upon l the frame portion 17", at a properdistance from the edge-truingdevice just described, an edge-scalloping device is positioned,comprising a shaft 47, held rotatably on .the top of :the frame by boxesis, so that the shaft is disposed transversely of the table 18 and aboveit a proper distance, as best shown in Figs. 2, 9, and 10.

The preferred means for rotatably supporting the shaft 47 consists oftwo similar bracket-stands 48, secured upon the sides of themachine-frame, these stands bearing the boxes k, wherein the journals ofthe shaft are held to rotate. Near each end of the shaft 47 a head-block49 in circularform is mount- 3 ed and securedadj ustablyby jam-nuts m m,

thatyhave a threaded engagement with screwthreads cut on the body of:the shaft adjacent to its journal ends. A plurality of punches n havetheir bodies clamped upon the inner side of each circular head-block 49,so asto project their outerends somewhat beyond the edge of thehead-block which carries them. As shown, the punches for each head-blocknumberfour; but this number may beincreased or diminished, if desired,and preferably the cutting end of each punch n is cupped togive it abevel edge, as shown in Fig. .15.

The head-blocks 49 and punches n thereon are so relatively disposed thatthe lower end of each punch will be adapted to track inside of and nearthe side edgesof the table18, ap-

proaching the periphery of a rotatable. drum 50, the ends of theshaft ofthe drum being i j ournaled in thelower portions of the bracketstands48. The drum 50 is preferably formed of rawhide and is cylindrical inits body, that is located mainly below the table 18, but projects upinto a transverse slot in the table, so that the outer ends of thepunches l't may successively pass through material imposed upon thetable and then slightly contact with the periphery of the drum when theshaft 47 is revolved.

Upon the end of the transverse shaft 47, which extends beyond theleft-hand side of the frame portion 17 a pulley is secured to receivethe rear doubled end of the belt 44, previously mentioned, which adaptsthe shaft 47 and punches carried thereon to rotate in unison with therotatable movement of the cutters 45. Two pulleys are mounted on theshaft 47 at the left-hand end thereof, one of said pulleys beingexterior of that whereon the belt 44 is mounted, and the outermostpulley on the shaft 47 is engaged by one end of a belt 51, which isextended toward the rear of the table 18 and is mounted upon a pulleyfixed on the left-hand extremity of the transverse spindle 52, that is aportion of a device which punches a transverse row of holes in theplaster-board material, said rows being at such distances apart as willdefine the length of each plaster-board when it is completed.

The punching device just mentioned and that is represented in Figs. 1,2, 11, and 12 comprises the spindle 52, held to rotate in two oppositehousing-frames 53, erected from the machine-frame portion 17 byvertically-adjustable boxes 0. There are a plurality of similar arms 54secured at spaced intervals upon the spindle 52, the lower ends of saidarms being connected by a transverse punchcarrying bar 55, and theirupper ends being projected above the spindle. A suitable number ofpunches 10 have their bodies secured upon the bar 55, so that theworking ends of the punches will be alined and arranged adjacent to eachother, as is clearly shown in Fig. 11.

Upon the upper ends of the arms 54 an adjustable counterbalance-weight pis secured, the said weights being designed to facilitate the rotationof the punching device without vibration of the spindle or excessivefriction on its journals.

In service, assuming that material to be operated upon by the series ofpunches p is moved at a speed uniform with the rotation of the spindle52, it will be seen that at each complete revolution of the spindle atransverse row of holes will be punched in such material, and said rowsof holes will be evenly spaced apart, two rows of these perforationsdefining the length of a plaster-board which is subsequently severedfrom the other plaster-board material by means that will now bedescribed.

Rearwardly of the punching device having the series of punches p acutting mechanism is positioned transversely on the machineframe,consisting of details best shown in Figs. 13 and 14, but also appearingin Figs. 1 and 2. The cutting device comprises a shaft 56, heldrotatably near its ends in boxes 0, vertically adjustable in thehousing-frames 57, that are oppositely mounted and secured upon thesides of the frame portion 17. A plurality of arms 58 are secured atspaced distances apart on the shaft 56, three of said arms being shownin Figs. 2 and 13. The arms 58 engage the shaft 56 near the centers ofthe arms, and on a like end of each arm a counterbalance-weight s isadjustably secured.

Upon the opposite ends of the arms -58 a cutter-knife 59 is bolted, thebeveled cutting edge of which is projected beyond the ends of thesupporting-arms. A cylindrical drum 60, preferably made of rawhide orsimilar material, is secured upon a shaft a, which at its ends hasrotatable engagement with boxes held in the housing-frames 57. The uppersurface of the drum 60 projects into a transverse slot formed in thetable 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 14, so that it will be nearly alinedwith the plane of the table-top. The distance from the center of theshaft 56 to the cuttingedge of the knife 59 should be equal to thedistance between the center of the spindle 52 and outer ends of thepunches 1).

It will be obvious that if the cutting device is stationed a properdistance from the punch ing device next in front of it and the rotarymotion of these two devices is equal in speed the flat material E, movedupon the table 18 rearwardly and first subjected to the action of thetransverse row of punches 19, will be cut across the row of punchedholes at their centers, thus severing a plaster-board and formingscallops along each severed trans-v verse edge of the material.

At a proper distance above or at one side of the liquid-holder 19 thereis supported an upright mixing-tank B, having a capacity sufficient fora charge of the liquid coating for each of the compartments 19. ing-tankB is preferably cylindrical and, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided withtwo spaced upright rotatable shafts B, each provided with a bevel-pinionB on its upper end,which projects above the tank, these pinions havingmeshed engagement with like bevel-pinions secured on a horizontal shaftB rotatably supported by brackets 13 above the top of the tank, a pulleyB being secured on one end of the shaft B to receive a belt (not shown)for the transmission of motion and power to the shafts B.

Asuitable number of stirring rods or blades B project from each shaft B,and the blades on one shaft pass between the blades on the other shaft,which adapts said blades to thoroughly stir material that is placedinthe tank B. A valve B controls the escape of liquid material from aspout B projecting from the side of the tank B at its bottom, the spoutpreferably being extended over the interme= diate compartment 19 of theliquid-holder The mix- 19. A suitable fireproof liquid mixture ofingredients is prepared in the tank B when the improved machine is to beput into service, and the holder 19 may be filled to a height 5 topermit the liquid coating material to flow over the inclinedpartition-walls 19 into each compartment, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The paper sheet on the roll A is first extended over the roller 22 andbelow the perforating device rotatably mounted above said roller, saidpaper sheet that is imposed upon the table 18 being drawn rearwardly byhand to pass it between the paper-feed rollers 29 29. An end of thepaper sheet forming the paper-roll A is next drawn therefrom over theadjacent roller 22 and thence down below the idler-roller 22 near to andrearward of the roller 22, and from the roller 22 the paper sheet ismanually drawn between the paper-feed rollers 29 29. An end of thepaperroll A is next drawn between the perforating device and roller 22adjacent to the next lower idler-roller 22, beneath which this papersheet is extended to rest upon the preceding paper sheet A andpass-between the apei' feeding rollers 29 29. A paper sheet rom the rollA is now drawn over the adjacent roller 22, thence down beneath therearward idler-roller 22, and from it between the paper-feeding rollers29 29, and after the four paper sheets have been entered between saidrollers the upper roller 29 is lowered, so as to press the paper sheetssufiiciently for the assured movement of all these end portions from thepaper-rolls A A A A rearwardly and at the same rate of speed. Theshifting-bar 34 is now adjusted to throw the main belt 35 from the loosepulley 32 upon the secured pulley 31, which will start all working partsof the machine into motion and simultaneously open the feed-slits e atthe bottoms of the liquid-holding compartments 19 for a proper dischargeof the liquid-plaster coating. It will be seen that the scrapers cl,respectively engaging a feed-roller 26,wil1 remove the plaster coatingtherefrom, so that said material will drop from each liquid-feedingroller 26 upon an appropriate paper sheet A A A The progressive movement of the paper sheets A, A and A will pass the three coated sheets AA A beneath the plates D, so that the latter, which are each supported aproper distance above the paper sheet, will evenly distribute theplaster coating thereon and push any surplus material off of thepapersheet at its side edges. The uppermost paper sheet that is drawnfrom the rearmost paper-roll A forms a covering for the coated sheet'Aand at thetime the coated sheets reach the paper feeding rollers 29 29the upper roller 29 should be adjusted to compensate for the coatings onthe sheets, and thus permita proper amount or thickness of the coatingto remain on and between adjacent paper sheets. The feeding-rollers 2929 are aided in their operation by the other pair of feeding-rollers, ofwhich the roller 38 is the uppermost, and from the rearmost pair offeeding-rollers the consolidated-plaster-board material E is movedtoward and is engaged at each side edge by the edge-trimming circularcutters 45. The true edges of the plaster board material as it movesrearwardly upon the table 18 have contact with the guide-rollers46,which serve to keep the plaster-board material or comp0s ite sheetmoving straight upon the table 18. The plaster-board material next ismoved below the punches n, which are so relatively positioned-above eachside edge of said material as to adapt these duplicate sets of punchesto cut scallops at short intervals of separation along each trued edgeof the plaster-board material. The progressive move ment of theplaster-board material upon the table 18 next brings the sideedge-scalloped portion thereof beneath the row of transversely-disposedpunches 19, that are forced down through the plaster-board at eachcomplete revolution of said punches along with the spindle 52, whichcarries them, and, as before mentioned, the radial distance from thecenter of the spindle to the outer ends of the punches, or either one ofsaid punches, defines the length of each plaster-board. Theplaster-board material, which has been transversely punched to formclose rows of holes therein at some distance apart or between said rows,is next brought beneath the cutterblade or knife 59, and the rate ofprogressive movement of the plaster-board material being uniform withthe rate of "rotation given to the shaft 56, that carries said knife, itwill be obvious that the edge of the knife 59 may be timed in movementto engage with the plaster-board material at the centers of the holespunched by the punches p, and thus cnt'a rectangular plas ter-board E,such as ap pears in Figs. 2 and 16, from the main portion of theplaster-board material while the latter is being continuously formed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A machine for making plaster-boards, comprisingmeans to feed paper sheets on a level support, a sheet-perforatingdevice, a device to coat a plurality of said paper sheets with afireproof mixture, a compressing device, an edge-trimming device, andmeans to cut a plaster-board from an end portion of the completedplaster-board material.

2. A machine for making plaster-boards, comprising a suitable support, ameans to feed a plurality of paper sheets thereon, a perforating devicefor each paper sheet, a device adapted to evenly coat a plurality of thepaper sheets with a fireproof mixture, a compressing device adapted toconsolidate the plaster-board material after it is coated, anedge-trimming device, an edge-scalloping device, and a device adapted tocut a completed plaster-board from the main portion of suchplaster-board material.

3. A machine for making fireproof plasterboards, comprising a frame, atable thereon, a plurality of holder-compartments for liquid coating,held above the table near one end thereof, means to control thedischarge of liquid coating material from each compartment upon a papersheet drawn below it, a device to evenly spread the coating on eachsheet, a paper-feeding device adapted to compress the coated papersheets together, an edge-trimming device, an edge-scalloping device, andmeans to cut a completed plasterboard from the main portion of suchplasterboard material, these several devices being arranged on the frameto operate successively.

4:. A machine for making fireproof plasterboards, comprising a frame, atable thereon, a plurality of holder-compartments for coating materialheld above the table near one end thereof, means to control thedischarge of coating from each compartment, means to In testimonywhereof I have signed my 35 name to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK RYAN.

Witnesses:

WM. P. PATTON, JNo. M. BITTER.

